Hub for steering wheels



Oct. p

A. E. BRONSON nus FOR STEERING WHEELS Filed Nov. 10, 1922 qwqgmwm Patented Got. 2 1, 1924.

UNITED 'FFEQE.

ADELBERT E. BRONSON, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HUB FO'R STEERING WHEELS.

Application filed November 10, 1922. Serial No. 600,008.

be secured at the upper end of a steering shaft, the hub forming a support for the steering wheel proper, and also co-operating with a locking mechanism by which the steering wheel may be fastened to the steering shaft or disconnected therefrom at will.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of th1s specification, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a steering wheel mounted upon a steering shaft with the shaft and hub in elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of a hub; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a hub shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a vertical section of a hub shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a hub of modified construction; Fig. 6 is a transverse section of a hub shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a hub of modified construction; Fig. 8 is a transverse section of a hub shown in Fig. 7.

For the purpose ofexplaining the present invention, reference will be made to the use of this hub in connection with a specific construction, but it will be understood that the hub may be used in connection with other constructions which will differ in their details from that shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a turning shaft which is adapted to be turned by the wheel 2. Surrounding the shaft is a usual stationary casing 3. At the upper end of the shaft 1 is secured the hub 4, the construction of which forms the subject matter of this application. The steering wheel, 2, has a recess 5 in which is located a locking mechanism which need notbe particularly described because it forms no part of this application. However, reference w1ll be made to the fact that there is a bolt 6 which forms a part of the locking'mechanism.

Within the recess 5 of the steering wheel there is a ball bearing ring 7 which is at one end of the recess, and there is also a ball bearing ring 8 which is at the opposite.

end of the recess. Associated with these rings are ball bearings suchas indicated at 9 and 10, and these balls in turn co-operate with raceways 11 and 12 which are formed uponthe outer surfaceof the hub member.

Within the hub member 4 there is a recess which will be later described, into which the bolt 6 may extend, and when the bolt does so extend then the steering wheel is connected with the steering rod 1, and c0nversely when the bolt 6 is withdrawn then the steering wheel may turn idly upon the ball'bearings 9 and 10.

It is desirable to have a horn button associated with the steering wheel, and such a horn button is shown at 18, this being spring pressed by a spring 14 which normally urges the button outwardly. Connected with the button is a shank 15 which at its lower end,

is secured to a cup-shaped member 16. EX-

tending through suitable openings formed in theyhub member are a plurality of pins one of which is indicated at 17. The edge struction of the hub member 4, and in Figs.

2, 3 and/i there is'shown hub construction.

Referring to these figures, 20' represents a'cup-shape'd member, and 21 represents anone form' of such other cup-shaped member which is-a duplicate of the cup-shaped member 20. Each cup-shaped member such as described has an inwardly extending cylindrical wall 20 and has upon its outer surface a shouldered portion 20 which serves as a bearing raceway which will be evident by referring to Fig. 2. Each cup-shapedmember' is also formed to have a marginal flangev 20, and when the cup-shaped members are assembled the the other,

described may be conveniently formed from sheet metal of suitable gauge and as a means for securing them together a ring member 22 may be used which is of an internal diameter that is slightly less than the external diameter of the inwardly extending flange 20, so that when the ring 22 is forced over the inwardly extending flange 20 it will compress the metal of the flange 20 so that the two parts will, after being forced together, remain in their connected condition due the frictional holding of the one to Similarly the ring 22 may be assembled with respect to the cup 2. so that in the finish-ed article the ring 22 serves the connecting means between the cup members 20, 21., and also serves as a stifferme nlv r.

As will be well understood, the depth dimensio 'cs which form the cups 2 so that the edges f tli the members will meet in edge when the ring member 22 is in 'ement with the inside bottom walls o" After the assembly of the cup-shaped .iembers and the ring 22 as described there are one or more grooves, such as represented at 23, milled in a longitudinal direction, cutting through the inwardly extending flange 20 of the cup-shaped n'iembers, and into the ing These grooves 23 serve lreyways by which the hub is mounted at the end of the steering shaft so as to rotatively connect the hub wit: the steering shaft.

In the side portion of the assembled cupshaped members before described there is an opening 24. which opening may be formed either after the cups are assembled by a' drilling operat on, or each half of the opening 24 may be formed in each of the cupshaped members before assembly. This opening 24: is in alignment with an opening 25, which is formed in the ring 22, when the hub member is positioned upon the stee ing shaft 1 the pos tionof the openings 24;, 25, will be such. that the bolt 6 may pass through and engage in these openings for the purpose of connecting the wheel proper with the hub. In this connection it will be noted that the driving force by which the steering wheel turns the steering shaft 1 is I really through the ring member 22 and that .Therefore, the band in the opening 24, and also extends into the opening 25 which is formed in the ring member 22, this tubular member 26 serving as a guide to guide the bolt into engagement with the ring 22.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a further modification of the structure in which the two cup-shaped members are connected together by means of an internal and external fastening means, rather than a ring member like the ring 22 which has been previously described.

Referring toFigs. 7 and 8 there are cupshaped members 2'? and 28 which are formed precisely alike. In eachof the cup-shaped members there is a depressed central portion suclas represented at 27% which will be later described and there is also a shouldered portion. such as 28 which is adapted to serve as a ball race in precisely the-same manner the shoulder 20 in the structure which has been previously described.

The cup-shaped members 2'? and 28 may be assembled with. their edge or rim'in en gagement and for the purpose of holding; iem in this position there is an internal bushing 29 which at its outer provided with outturned flanges flanges being turned to occupy the move 27 which is formed in the cupaped members. andthese members are in such a manner that the connection betweenthe member 29 and the cup-- shaped members permits of no relatiye movement. There is an annular band-like member 31 which engages with the central portion of the assembled cup members to hold this band member in place such at 31 are bent over to en.- gage with a portion of the shoulders 31 and the thimble hold the cup-shaped members in their sembled position and against movement. The member 29 may be conveniently formed as stamping, and when this is done one or such as indicated at may led in the membeii' 29 when 1s mitiall; rormed up. At the side of the assembled cup-shaped members which have been described there is an openi and extending inst through this. oneni cylindrical member 33, and t the inner end of this member there are e: ending portio and 35 which are formed to correspond with the outer surface of the member 29. and the extreme edges of these members bear against the side walls of the formed keyways slots 29 This member secured in its position in anydesired manner. "When the. bolt 6 moves into the member 3 and the wheel is. turned to transmit the urnine; force of the wheel to the steerin o t, the le tlr .st incident to the opera described is "transferred through the cove 33, and its 34a, to the bushing 29, which is keyed to the steering shaft 1 by suitable keys which occupy the grooves 29 Having described my invention, I claim 1. A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, means for securing said cup-shaped members together the said hub having a circumferential bearing shoulder formed upon its outer surface.

2. A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, means for securing said cup-shaped members together, the hub having a bearing portion formed upon its outer surface and said hub having an opening in its side for the purpose described.

3. A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, each of said members having aligned axial openings which have marginal flanges, the latter flanges of the two members being in contact, and a cylindrical member which aligns with said opening and co-operating with said last-mentioned flanges to hold them together.

4%. A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, each of said members having an axial opening which openings are in alignment, and a cylindrical member which aligns with said opening and co-operating with said members to hold them together, said cylindrical member being formed with a lreywayupon its inner surface.

A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, means holding the said members together said hub having an opening in the side thereof, and

a tubular member extending through said opening.

6. A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, each of said members having an axial opening, a cylindrical member which aligns with said opening and co-operating with the said members to hold them together, said hub having an opening in the side thereof, and.

a tubular member extending through said opening.

7. A hub comprising two cup-shaped members having their marginal flanges in contact, and a cylindrical member within said hub, the cup-shaped members having portions which are forced upon said ringshaped member which thereby forms a means for uniting the cup-shaped members and a strengthening member, the cup-shaped members havinc bearin portions formed upon their outer surfaces.

8.1 1 hub comprising two cup-shaped opening which aligns With the opening in the side of the hub.

9. A hub comprising two cup-shaped -1nembers having their marginal flanges in contact thereby forming a hollow hub, each of said cup-shaped members having inwardly extending cylindrical portions, a ringlike member which is forced into contact with a surface of the said cylindrical extensions whereby the cup-shaped members are held together and strengthened, the hub thus formed having a bearing portion upon its upper surface and said hubat one side thereofbeing formed with an opening, and the said ring member being formed with an opening which alignswith the opening in the side of the hub, and a tubular member extending. through the opening in the side of the hub and into the opening in the ring member.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature. ADELBERT E. BBONSUN. 

